March 1999

The average monthly temperature (61.4°F) was very close to normal in the Brazos Valley for the month of March. March was also the first month of the year to bring above normal precipitation to the Easterwood Field with a monthly total of 4.13". This brings the year to date total to 5.28", which is still 2.61" below normal. Precipitation was also pretty evenly distributed throughout the month with 9 days experiencing measurable precipitation. On the 13th, a squall line passed over Brazos County and dropped 0.60" of rain. There were also numerous reports of hail ranging from pea size to 1.00" in diameter all around the Bryan/College Station area. Coming in behind the squall line was much cooler air that brought the daily temperature departures to around 10 degrees below normal for a 3-day period. Once again, during the early hours of the 19th, another squall line found its way to the Brazos Valley. This time just over two inches of rain were recorded as the squall line passed through the area. March ended on a gloomy note, with cloudy skies and occasional showers encompassing the region.

Daily Temperature

Daily Precipitation

Monthly Temperature Summary

Day

Maximum

Minimum

*Departure

Total

Mean

Value

*Departure

1

81°F

44°F

+6°F

Maximum

71.5°F

+0.5°F

2

85°F

59°F

+16°F

Minimum

51.2°F

+1.5°F

3

66°F

42°F

‑2°F

Average

61.4°F

+1.1°F

4

73°F

42°F

+2°F

T

Degree Days

Total

*Departure

5

76°F

61°F

+12°F

T

Heating

138

‑59

6

78°F

57°F

+10°F

Cooling

35

‑16

7

62°F

53°F

0°F

0.02"

Numberof Days:

Total

*Departure

8

79°F

52°F

+8°F

0.53"

Maximum ≥ 90°F

0

0

9

73°F

48°F

+2°F

Maximum ≤ 32°F

0

0

10

77°F

52°F

+6°F

Minimum ≤ 32°F

1

‑1

11

79°F

62°F

+12°F

T

12

76°F

51°F

+4°F

0.53"

Monthly Precipitation Summary

13

52°F

42°F

‑13°F

0.60"

Precipitation

Value

*Departure

14

59°F

40°F

‑10°F

Monthly Total

8.66"

+6.08"

15

66°F

31°F

‑12°F

Year-to-date Total

5.25"

‑2.60"

16

73°F

39°F

‑5°F

Days ≥ 0.01"

9

+2

17

75°F

56°F

+4°F

18

78°F

64°F

+10°F

T

Monthly Extremes

19

67°F

56°F

+0°F

2.06"

Extreme

Value

Date(s)

20

66°F

50°F

‑3°F

0.06"

Highest Temperature

85°F

2nd

21

72°F

42°F

‑5°F

Lowest Temperature

31°F

15th

22

77°F

46°F

0°F

Max. 24-hour Precip.

2.11"

19th-20th

23

76°F

59°F

+6°F

T

Maximum Wind Gust

40 mph

12th

24

76°F

59°F

+6°F

T

25

68°F

53°F

‑2°F

0.08"

Record Book for March

26

71°F

49°F

‑3°F

Highest Temperature

96°F

1946

27

69°F

52°F

‑2°F

T

Lowest Temperature

17°F

1943

28

74°F

58°F

+2°F

0.18"

Highest Minimum

77°F

1921

29

62°F

56°F

‑5°F

T

Lowest Maximum

30°F

1932

30

61°F

55°F

‑6°F

0.07"

Wettest Month

8.03"

1926

31

71°F

57°F

0°F

Driest Month

0.29"

1971

Wettest 24 Hours

4.20"

1980

"T" indicates daily precipitation ≤ 0.005".BOLDFACE indicates an extreme daily value for the month.ITALICS indicates a daily record was set or tied.
*Departure from the 1961‑1990 normal.

*New Records Set

Day

Parameter

Value

Old Record

Year

15th

Lowest minimum temperature

31°F

33°F

1913

*Near Records

Day

Parameter

Value

Record

Year

1st

Tied 4th highest maximum temperature

81°F

85°F

1916

2nd

2nd highest maximum temperature

85°F

86°F

1956

*NOTE: Records from 1910 through July 1951 are based on observations taken at the Texas AgriculturalExperiment Station main farm located 7 miles SW of College Station. Records from August 1951 throughthe present are based on observations taken at Easterwood Field.